Three Event Wins & Multiple National Marks Highlight NC State’s Performance at Liberty Open

Three Event Wins & Multiple National Marks Highlight NC State’s Performance at Liberty Open

1/23/2026 9:03:00 PM | Track

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The NC State track & field team continued its 2026 campaign at the Liberty Open with another strong showing, which included three event victories and seven athletes earning spots on NC State's all-time top-10 lists in their respective events.

Bethany Michalak and Kate Putman led the way in the mile, breaking the facility record with times of 4:35.91 and 4:36.97. Their performances now rank No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, among Division I mile times. Brooke Rauber and Kaylie Armitage also delivered impressive mile efforts, posting times that place them No. 29 and No. 88 nationally. On the men's side, Jimmy Mullarkey recorded a time of 4:05.26, ranking No. 96 all-time in the Division I mile.

In the field events, Elyssia Fisher soared to a mark of 19'7" in the long jump, ranking No. 93 in Division I.

The Wolfpack continued its success in the triple jump, as Mariama Hunt posted a mark of 40' 7.75", ranking No. 66 in Division I and No. 71 under the new NCAA standards. On the men's side, Ryan John recorded a jump of 51' 0.25", placing him No. 26 in both Division I and the new NCAA rankings.

RESULTS
WOMEN'S MILE INVITE

Bethany Michalak - 4:35.91 (1st, No. 5 NC State time)
Kate Putman - 4:36.97 (2nd, No. 8 NC State time)
Brooke Rauber - 4:42.57 (3rd)
Kaylie Armitage - 4:49.75 (5th)
Briley Bickerstaff - 4:51.53 (6th)
Chandler Welsh - 4:53.20 (7th)
Justine Preisano - 4:54.11 (10th)
Olivia Haas - 5:02.79 (12th)

MEN'S MILE INVITE

Jimmy Mullarkey - 4:05.26 (1st)
Jack Anstrom - 4:08.84 (4th)
Luke Wiley - 4:12.22 (6th)
Noah Valyo - 4:13.01 (7th)
Philip Blum - 4:19.29 (8th)

MEN'S MILE

Michael Haskin - 4:17.29 (5th)
Brayden Marshall - 4:19.17 (7th)
James Callahan - 4:22.57 (16th)

WOMEN'S 1000m INVITE

Kate Putman - 2:46.32 (3rd, No. 3 NC State time)
Bethany Michalak 2:47.69 (4th, No. 5 NC State time)
Brooke Rauber - 2:49.05 (5th, No. 7 NC State time)
Kaylie Armitage - 2:54.96 (6th)
Justine Preisano - 2:56.28 (7th)

WOMEN'S 1000M

Olivia Haas - 3:00.22 (7th)
Chandler Welsh - 3:01.75 (10th)

MEN'S 1000m INVITE

Elliott McArthur - 2:23.81 (2nd, No. 2 NC State time)
Noah Valyo - 2:30.83 (4th)
Luke Wiley - 2:32.86 (5th)
Philip Blum - 2:33.76 (6th)
Michael Haskin - 2:34.35 (7th)
James Callahan - 2:37.12 (8th)
Brayden Marshall - 2:37.96 (9th)

WOMEN'S WEIGHT THROW

Natalie Griffith - 16.47m / 54' 0.50" (8th)

MEN'S WEIGHT THROW

Tony Taylor II - 18.19m / 59' 8.25" (5th)

MEN'S SHOT PUT

Tony Taylor II - 13.07m / 45' 6.25" (11th)

WOMEN'S HIGH JUMP

Audrey Jenkins - 1.66m / 5' 5.25" (3rd)
McKenna Moritz - 1.66m / 5' 5.25" (3rd)
Kirstin Smalls - 1.66m / 5' 5.25" (3rd)
Jenna Barnes - 1.61m / 5'3.25" (7th)

MEN'S HIGH JUMP

Christian Hackett - 2.05m / 6' 8.75" (2nd)
Judd Armstrong - 2.00m / 5' 6.75" (3rd)
Chase Farlow - 2.00m / 6' 6.75" (3rd)

WOMEN'S TRIPLE JUMP

Mariama Hunt - 12.30m / 40' 7.75" (1st, No. 9 NC State mark)

MEN'S TRIPLE JUMP

Ryan John - 15.55m / 51' 0.25" (2nd, No. 10 NC State mark)
Ryan Farness - 14.44m / 47' 4.50" (8th)
Asun Pender - 14.09m / 46' 2.75" (11th)

WOMEN'S LONG JUMP

Elyssia Fisher - 5.97m / 19' 7.00" (2nd, No. 10 NC State mark)

MEN'S LONG JUMP

Ryan Farness - 6.98m / 22' 10.75" (4th)
Asun Pender - 6.77m / 22' 2.50" (7th)
Jack Owen - 6.66m / 21' 10.25" (10th)

UP NEXT
NC State Track & Field will compete in two meets on January 30-31. Athletes will travel to the Bob Pollock meet in Clemson, SC, and to the Brant Tolsma Elite Invite in Lynchburg, Va.